Craving the contemporary, zesty taste of Café Rio’s cilantro lime rice? This copycat recipe brings the right stability of fluffy rice, tangy lime, and fragrant cilantro, making it the perfect aspect dish for tacos, burritos, and even only a scrumptious bowl by itself. With a few easy elements, you may recreate that vibrant, savory style at residence.

*This can be a sponsored submit as a consequence of my partnership with the Utah Dairy Council.
I’ve discovered that after I make Mexican meals these days I really need rice and beans with it, similar to the eating places do. I didn’t used to care, however I’ve actually grown to love the rice and beans. We particularly love how straightforward this rice is. There’s a contact of butter within the rice too. Let’s not overlook that. Just a little dairy can completely change a dish for the higher. True story.
I’ll embrace an entire part beneath for recreating an entire Café Rio meal that features this straightforward rice recipe! Mmmm…now I’m craving some Café Rio!

Components for Cilantro Lime Rice
Whether or not you’re planning to eat this rice as a aspect dish for some hen fajitas or as the bottom for burrito bowls, you’re household goes to find it irresistible! Let’s soar additional into the all of the elements you’ll need!
- Rice: Simply common long-grain white rice will work nice. Jasmine rice and basmati rice would additionally work.
- Water: used to prepare dinner the rice
- Unsalted Butter: provides richness and taste
- Hen Bouillon: Provides taste to the rice because it simmer.
- Garlic: Recent minced garlic gives you one of the best taste.
- Cilantro: You may’t have an excessive amount of contemporary cilantro in my view, so seize a bundle from the produce part of the grocery retailer and chop it up.
- Lime: Recent lime juice is certainly most popular, however when you don’t have lime, the bottled lime juice will work.
- Diced Inexperienced Chiles: I like to go away the juice in for added taste. You may dial up the spice right here with medium or scorching canned chiles. We follow gentle in our home.
The measurements and particulars for every recipe might be discovered within the recipe card on the finish of the submit.


The way to Make Cilantro Lime Rice on the Range Prime
I virtually at all times prepare dinner rice on the range prime as of late. I was loyal to the rice cooker, however as time has gone on, I’ve discovered myself having fun with being a bit extra fingers on with rice. It takes a tiny bit extra work, however for me, it’s price it. Listed below are the steps for making this cilantro lime rice recipe together with a photograph of every step beneath.
- Pour: Add all of the elements to a big saucepan over medium-high warmth. Begin with the water adopted by the rice. Then add the inexperienced chiles, garlic, butter, bouillon, chopped cilantro, and the contemporary lime juice.
- Boil: Give every thing a superb stir to mix and convey it to a boil.
- Simmer: As soon as it’s boiling, cut back the warmth to low, put a lid on it and let it prepare dinner for 20-Half-hour till the rice is tender.
- Fluff: Take away the lid, fluff the rice with a fork and serve!
These directions are additionally contained within the recipe card on the finish of the submit.
















The way to Make Cilantro Lime Rice in a Rice Cooker
Making this recipe on the range prime is straightforward sufficient, however if you would like it even simpler, use a rice cooker! Add all of the elements to the rice cooker, give it a superb stir after which set it to prepare dinner. Put the lid on and also you’re finished. When it’s finished cooking, fluff the rice and serve.
Searching for Low Carb??: We have now a low carb model of this recipe as nicely. Attempt our cilantro lime cauliflower rice!
What Can You Substitute For Cilantro?
You may substitute cilantro with an equal quantity of contemporary parsley, tarragon, dill or a mixture of the three.


What to Serve with Cilantro Lime Rice
When you’ve by no means been to Café Rio, let me paint you an image. It’s a fast service restaurant and also you stroll down the prepare dinner line and order precisely what you need as you make your approach towards the register watching your whole meal be made proper earlier than your eyes.
It’s much like Chipotle or Costa Vida. You may select a salad, tacos, a burrito, a quesadilla, nachos or enchiladas. You then decide the kind of meat you need adopted by all of the toppings. Every thing is so contemporary and scrumptious! Listed below are few extra of our Café Rio Copycat Recipes to create your individual meal at residence:
My advice…put a selfmade flour tortilla down right into a shallow bowl and prime it with a scoop of this cilantro lime rice. Then add a scoop of our favourite Mexican black beans adopted by a pile of the candy pork or shredded hen. Prime that with some shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, guacamole, a sprinkle of cotija cheese and a superb drizzle of the tomatillo dressing. There’s no approach you received’t find it irresistible!


Storing and Reheating
Leftovers must be saved in an hermetic container within the fridge. They are going to maintain for as much as 5 days. They are often reheated on the range prime or within the microwave. I like so as to add a bit hen broth or water earlier than reheating it in order that it doesn’t dry out.
Rice additionally freezes nicely. Let it cool utterly after which place it in a freezer-safe container. It’s going to maintain for as much as 3 months after which let it thaw within the fridge in a single day and reheat as talked about.


Watch The way to Make This Cilantro Lime Rice at Residence…
Discover ways to make scrumptious and flavorful cilantro lime rice similar to the favored aspect dish from Café Rio. This copycat recipe is straightforward to comply with and takes lower than Half-hour with solely 5 minutes of precise hands-on work. I’ve a sense this recipe goes to be in your common dinner rotation everytime you make a Mexican essential dish.
Extra Mexican Facet Dishes:
Description
This copycat cilantro lime rice is rather like Cafe Rio’s and it makes the right addition to any Mexican dish or entree for dinner.
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Pour every thing in a rice cooker and comply with product directions, or in a pot, warmth to a boil after which add the lid and switch right down to low for 20-Half-hour or till tender.
2 Cups Rice, 4 Cups Water, 2 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, 2 teaspoons Hen Bouillon, 1 Clove Garlic, 1 Handful Cilantro, 1/2 Lime, 1 Can Diced Inexperienced Chiles
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Take away the lid, stir to mix every thing and serve instantly.
Rice will maintain within the fridge for 4-7 days
Energy: 205kcal
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